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Copenhagen School theory and the case of Saudi Arabia in the Post Saddam era

fatemeh Shayan
Tampere University
fatemeh Shayan
Tampere University
Open Panel

Abstract

This paper enters the debates on the societal security problems in Saudi Arabia in the Post-Saddam era, with the aim of linking it to the security complex in the Persian after the 2003 Iraqi invasion. It is found that there are numerous societal security problems in this country, however there are not in-depth existing studies on them. Upon a closer examination, the societal security problems could link to each other and affect the wider region. In practical research efforts little is sought to fill the places reserved for the societal security problem in one single unit and its relevance to the wider region. In order to correct this state of affairs the paper adopts the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT), the societal sector of security and securitization as proposed within the Copenhagen School (CS) theory. That provides a promising rout for outlining how those societal security problems link to the other units in the security complex in the Persian Gulf. This paper argues that the rapid growth of population, unemployment, lack of qualified educational system, and terrorism are the pivotal societal problems among others in Saudi Arabia. Within the process tracing method, those societal security problems could associate with each other and consequently affect other units in the region. The paper then concludes by outlining that terrorism remains a great security problem which threatens the units in the security complex in the Persian.